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Australia's decisive action to prohibit social networking access for young people below 16 is sparking debate around the globe. Politicians, campaigners, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will set a precedent for other nations.

European Momentum

Throughout Europe, a increasing group of states are considering comparable restrictions.

• Denmark has announced a ban on social media for under-15s, with the prime minister arguing that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our kids' childhood". Legislation could be passed soon.
• Norway is planning to implement a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to shield young people from the "influence of the AI".
• The Irish government is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. Officials have stated that an similar ban remains "one of the tools under consideration".
• In Spain, the leader has called on the legislature to approve a law increasing the legal age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for children below 15, and a legislative committee has suggested a related move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for adolescents.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has advised parents to block their youngsters from social media before 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has passed a non-binding motion demanding a ban for minors unless guardian approval is granted. While it highlights of the "habit-forming" nature of these services, the resolution does not enact binding law.

"An effective age restriction is a good starting point," commented a leading MEP behind the initiative.

Britain: A Cautious Approach

For the United Kingdom, the administration has remained open to a future ban, emphasizing that "no measure is being dismissed" but insisting any action must be "supported by strong data".

Last year, momentum grew behind a bill to impose limits on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end watered down. Instead, the administration pledged to conduct more studies the topic.

Advocacy groups have voiced warnings. A prominent charity established by the family of a girl who was lost after viewing dangerous social media material suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to make platforms safer and could result in a "cliff edge" of exposure when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a reaction to the failure of the tech sector to create products and services that are safe and suitable for young users," commented a prominent online safety campaigner.

America: A State-by-State Landscape

Across America, regulation is mostly happening at the regional government level due to federal gridlock.

• The state of Utah mandates parental consent for minors to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has signed a measure prohibiting children under fourteen from accessing social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has approved a regulation capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with extra use needing parental permission.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have likewise enacted bills demanding parental consent for minors to create social media profiles.

Despite widespread concern and calls from various figures to copy Australia's lead, a nationwide ban is currently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Perspectives

Outside of the West, further nations are likewise considering moves.

• The Malaysian government plans to restrict social media for those under sixteen beginning next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has raised the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, global bodies adopt a more cautious tone. Unicef has advised that blanket prohibitions pose dangers and "may even backfire". The organization points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable youth and that regulation should not be a "replacement" for platform operators to invest in user protection.

Even as this global discussion evolves, the steps of Australia and several other countries demonstrate that policymakers internationally are increasingly willing to delay for platforms to make changes on their own.